Showing 1 - 10 of 19
The art of optimism
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 12/11/2025
» Artist Watoosiri Jansin, aka Artsaveworld, reflects on poor construction throughout Bangkok with her sculpture titled Maa Cherry Tid Tor Prapaa (Cherry The Dog Stuck In A Water Pipe). The long body of the dog reflects persistent issues.
Beware the AI bots
Life, James Hein, Published on 04/06/2025
» I recently joined a Facebook group that supposedly represented Kat Timpf, a regular presenter on the Gutfeld! show. I posted a couple of comments and a couple of weeks later, I received a tag in social media purportedly from Dana Perino, a regular on the Fox show The Five. Initially this was a surprise. Why would a famous TV star want to chat with me? After a few chats, it became obvious something was off. The tag name in Messenger was just Dana Perino but the conversation had a few structural errors, not something a former press secretary would make.
Rise of fake AI content
Life, James Hein, Published on 23/04/2025
» We have unofficially entered the time of the fake AI generated content. It's not perfect yet, but it's good enough to fool many people. I use a YouTube alternative, which means I have more time to watch videos across a wide range. In the last few weeks, I've noticed an increase in AI generated product that is fake. One standout is the Got Talent franchise where people have grafted AI generated acts with cuts from responses from the panel. They look great, like a woman transforming into a lion, but it's all fake. Even some of those cute animal videos are now fake. Why? More clicks so more income all based on fabricated videos.
Is your internet speed too slow?
Life, James Hein, Published on 09/04/2025
» How important is a good internet connection? This is one of those how long is a piece of string or what computer should I get questions. Back in the day, it was a huge jump from zero bits per second to a 2400 Baud modem. People and businesses were willing to pay a large sum to get connected because it opened up a new world of possibilities, ranging from not needing to go to the library as often and being able to sell and market products online. When and how often you paid for the next upgrade depended on your use case and the capabilities it provided. The next major jumps in speed were 4800, 9600 and 14400bps and everyone jumped to one of these as a next step. During this period, the mid 90s, the T1 at 1.544Mbps was the imaginary godlike speed we all dreamed about but didn't have money to afford. That speed provided real time video conference calls and was limited to government and large business concerns that typically involved a dedicated screening room. This was also when the concept of data compression started to gain popularity as you could send more with less bits.
Microsoft's quantum conundrum
Life, James Hein, Published on 12/03/2025
» If you've been keeping up with quantum computer news, you will have seen the Microsoft Marketing announcement on topological q-bits and a potential quantum computer in a few years. I was planning to write about this in some detail, but it turns out the reality may not meet the marketing. Surprising, I know, but the announcement implying Microsoft has q-bit technology ready to go and scale is speculative. They don't have any physical models, just some tests and a theory that has already been challenged by the physics community. It will take a while to go through all the published data, but the Microsoft quantum computer could be decades, not years, in the future, if ever.
Japan Expo returns bigger than ever at CentralWorld
Life, Patcharawalai Sanyanusin, Published on 05/02/2025
» The largest and most-anticipated Japan expo in Asia will be back with all forms of entertainment across nearly every floor of CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Road, daily from 10am to 9pm, from Friday until Sunday.
The reality of dreams
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 09/01/2024
» In the world of contemporary cinema, Norwegian filmmaker Kristoffer Borgli is a provocateur who is not afraid to tackle the intricacies of fame, societal pressures, and the blurred lines between the virtual and physical worlds. Known for his daring approach and for using satire to unveil the darker side of human nature, Borgli's work has garnered international acclaim, with his latest film Dream Scenario captivating audiences with its genre-bending narrative and stellar cast.
Memes of dissent
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 14/08/2023
» It is not as whimsical as it seems. After the onset of the largest pro-democracy movement since the military coup in 2014, university and high school students cuddled hamster dolls and ran around in circles. "Delicious tax!", hundreds of them sang, from a cartoon jingle at Democracy Monument in late July 2020. Crowdsourced from a social media platform, Hamtaro, a shorthand for caged mice demanding freedom, spawned many internet memes, including a greedy caricature of junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Balance is a surprising link to overall health
Life, Dr Eve Glazier and Dr Elizabeth Ko, Published on 13/09/2022
» DEAR DOCTORS: What's the deal with that 10-second balance test we're seeing all over the news? It doesn't seem like living longer would come down to being able to stand on one foot. Is there any science behind it, or is it just another meme?
A tale of betrayal
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 11/05/2022
» Inspired by the 2004 docuseries of the same name by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, HBO recently released the first episode of The Staircase, a crime drama starring Toni Collette and Colin Firth and created by Antonio Campos. The Staircase is based on real-life events and the infamous murder of Michael Peterson in 2001. The series, which currently has a "91 Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes, consists of eight episodes and will release new episodes on HBO Go every Thursday.